Charles Baker blows dough on gimmicks

[Ian David]

By Hillary Chabot
Thursday, May 13, 2010 - Updated 3d 20h ago

Vowing to be tight-fisted with taxpayer dough, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Charles D. Baker has played the party animal on the campaign trail - blowing almost $200,000 on lavish galas featuring goofball romps such as an inflatable jousting arena and a mechanical bull.

All told, Baker has burned through more than $2 million since August but has little to show for it - outspending his rivals even as he slipped further behind Gov. Deval Patrick in a poll released yesterday.

Baker’s campaign splurges include:

* $1,500 on an inflatable gladiator-style jousting arena, complete with padded poles to knock an opponent off a platform. The convention party package also included a green screen photo booth so GOP delegates could have their pictures taken standing between virtual images of Baker and running mate Sen. Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield) as a keepsake.
* $1,000 on a mechanical bull for his convention bash at Worcester’s Union Station, which Baker reportedly rode but campaign reps refused to confirm.
* $4,000 on balloons and confetti for the convention.
# $196,000 in catering, room rental and event fees related to parties and fund-raisers, including $6,000 on a holiday soiree for 800 at the swanky nightclub The Estate across from the Common.
# $1,500 on the New Black Eagle Jazz band for a fund-raising event in February.
# $6,985 in lunches and snacks for staffers and friends, including a $1,300 spread at the Cape Cod Yarmouth House in January.


Photo by Staff illustration
GOP party animal Charles Baker blew nearly $200G on galas and gags.


More:
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1254469